title: Glycyrrhizin inhibits prostaglandin E2 production by activated peritoneal macrophages from rats.
abstract: Glycyrrhizin was found to inhibit prostaglandin E2 production by activated rat peritoneal macrophages. Preincubation of the cells with glycyrrhizin increases its inhibitory effectiveness. Glycyrrhetinic acid, the aglycone of glycyrrhizin, at a dose of 100 microgram per ml also inhibited prostaglandin E2 production, but the inhibition was considered to be attributable to a toxic effect on the cells since more than 30% of the cells were detached from the dish during the 8 hr incubation period. In contrast, glycyrrhizin did not detach the cells from the dish at doses up to 3 mg per ml. Release of [3H]arachidonic acid from prelabeled cells was also inhibited by glycyrrhizin. It is likely that anti-inflammatory activity of glycyrrhizin depends at least in part on its inhibitory effect of the production of prostaglandin E2.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D015232:Dinoprostone; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid; D015232:Dinoprostone; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid